Child Benefit

HC Deb 16 November 1987 vol 122 c439W

Mrs. Maureen Hicks

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make it his policy that in any review of child benefit he will preserve the facility for the mother to be in direct receipt of the benefit.

Mr. Scott

There are no plans to change the mother's priority entitlement to child benefit.

Mr. Squire

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people receive child benefit; and how many of these are currently paying income tax.

Mr. Scott

Around 6.8 million families receive child benefit and around 5.5 million families with children pay income tax.